Gurgaon: Haryana school education department has directed Haryana Agro Industries Corporation Limited (HAICL) to immediately replace substandard and contaminated food items supplied to govt schools under the PM POSHAN scheme, following complaints from several districts.In a letter dated Feb 27, the department raised concerns over the quality and safety of dry rations being distributed to schools and sought an urgent explanation from the corporation.District education officers from Ambala, Fatehabad, Hisar, Kaithal and Yamunanagar reported that essential items such as jaggery (gur) and pulses were of poor quality. In some cases, supplies were found to be fungus-infested and unfit for consumption. The issue gained wider attention after a video showing allegedly substandard rajma being cooked for mid-day meals surfaced on social media.Officials said the complaints pointed to lapses in quality control and storage during procurement and distribution. Given that thousands of students depend on the scheme for daily nutrition, the department termed the issue “grave” serious and called for immediate corrective measures.The directorate instructed HAICL to withdraw and replace all spoiled and low-grade rations with fresh and hygienic supplies without delay. It also sought a detailed status report explaining the reasons for the lapse and outlining steps to strengthen monitoring and quality checks across the supply chain. Officials were asked to ensure that no compromised stock remained in school kitchens.Teachers in affected schools expressed concerns over the condition of the supplies. “We noticed discolouration and an unusual smell when we opened the bags of rajma and gur. We immediately informed the authorities because we cannot take any risk with children’s health,” said a teacher. Another teacher said poor-quality meals affect both students’ health and their trust in the system.An education department official said the state govt has reiterated zero tolerance for negligence in the implementation of the mid-day meal programme and stressed that ensuring safe and nutritious food for students remains a priority.
